Oak Canyon could spark county feud

Tuolumne County planners want their Calaveras County counterparts to temporarily halt a huge housing development proposed near Copperopolis.

If they don't, Tuolumne County might sue.

At issue is the intersection of O'Byrnes Ferry Road and Highway108 and the O'Byrnes Ferry Bridge over Tulloch Reservoir.

The environmental impact report for Oak Canyon Ranch  with 2,275 houses, a resort and two golf courses on 3,251 acres  says the development will generate 8,719 daily vehicle trips on O'Byrnes Ferry Road.

The EIR says "the addition of any traffic" to the Highway 108 intersection would be a "cumulative, significant impact."

However, nothing in the EIR or the project's development agreement requires Oak Canyon developers to pay for upgrades to the intersection or the bridge.

That prompted a unanimous vote by the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to tell Calaveras County that the project's EIR is inadequate and that developers should be required to pay their "fair share" for road repair costs.

Unless that is part of the Oak Canyon development agreement, Tuolumne County supervisors say, the project should be denied.

"If the Calaveras board doesn't respond to Tuolumne County's letter, the item would be reagendized in January and we would look at all our options," Tuolumne County Supervisor Mark Thornton said.

"We made it no secret on Tuesday that a lawsuit is something we would review as an option."

Calaveras County supervisors are scheduled to vote on Oak Canyon Ranch at 11 a.m. Monday. Developers are asking supervisors to approve their development agreement, specific plan, EIR and zoning code.

With those approvals, developers will have a project, although they would still need to finalize their maps and apply for building permits before breaking ground.

Calaveras County Supervisor Merita Callaway wouldn't comment on her vote. But she said the Tuolumne County letter raises some important questions.